The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-26
AFAITHLESS YOUNG Wife
DRIVES HER AGED HUSBAND TO
SUICIDE
By Deserting Him to Live Shame
less Life With Swell Young
Married Man.

living near the fenneylvanla DoroerI
below this city, was married to Martha
Pencil, who was not then 20 years
old. II was supposed by the young
woman and the people Of this locality
generally that Brent was possessed OF
considerable money, but his wife
learned soon after the marriage that
he was not worth dollar, his property
being heavily morigsged. The mar
rage was not followed by domestic
happiness. Mrs. Brent was one OF the
prettiest girls in the community where
she lived. Her parents were poor.
Brent and his young wife did not sep.
arAte, notwiths anding the infelicity OF
their married fs. Two years ago the
old mans fam was sold under fore
closure proceedings and coon after he
and his vile moved TO Indiana, where,
il seems, he succeeded in purchasing
a small farm, on which was valuable
tract OF walnut timber, three miles
from the small village OF Cristville.
For year past nothing had been
heard OF Brent and his young wife by
any OF their old Pennsylvania neigh
bors. Three weeks ago Mrs.
Brent appeared at her for
ner home. She was elegantly
dressed and was accompanied by
fae looking man, who WAS introduced
by her az her husband, George Tyler.
She said that Brent had die nearly
wear before and that she had married
q second time, aud was then on her
wedding tour, which was TO include
trip to Europe, her husband being
man OF means. The couple remsined
at the woman's fathers three days
and then took their departure, and
nothing has bsen heard from them
since. The news OF Abijah Brent's
death and the return Of his wife with
n rich husband was announced in a
local paper week before last. Charles
Rogers, q cousin OF Brents, who 10 a
travelling salesman for New York
house, and lives In that city, happen
ed to be in Deghboring village and
read the announcement OF Brenvs
death in the paper. He went at once
to his cousins old homo and there
produced LITTER which he had re-
ceived from Brent and which had
been w,it.en and mailed only the day
before Christmas. Rogers went to the
Indiana village and according to o
letter received from him by friend
In Susquehsnns county, found
strangely complicated and mysterious
case. For year or more Mrs. Brents
relations with q prominent citiZsn
OF Orietville, OF the name OF Cover
dale, had besn a source Of great scandal
In the community. Coverdale was a
merchant, and had an invalid vile
and five children. He and Mrs. Brent
were much together. Before the
holidays he began to sell out the
goods In his store by auction, and
added nothing TO his big stock. The
day following New Years the store
was not opened, and Coverdsle was
not seen in town. Nothing could be
learned as TO his Whereabouts. Brents
farm was on an uufrt quented road,
and his nearest neighbor lived two
miles away. Between Christmas and
New Years he had sold his walnut
timber for nearly $500, aud received
the money. A friend Of his, who was
at his house the day before New
Years, says that the money was in a
bureau on that day 10 Brent's bed
room. Two or three days after the
strange disapp 'arance Of Coverdale, a
resident OF Cristville drove out 90
Brent's farm to see the old man about
the purchase OF q horse. The house
was locked and the whole place had
a deserted appearance. A horse and
COW Ia the barn showed plainly that
they had not been fed for several days
Feeling that something was wrong
with Brent, the visitor summoned
Others and broke into the house. Ev'
erything was in order. Brent's cloth
ing was 10 his bedroom, but no tra,e
OF him could be found anywhere
about the premises. The bureau
drawer where Brent's friend declared
$500 was on Friday, was open aud the
money was gone. II was evident tina,
the house had been without occupants
for snms time. That COverdsls and
Mrs. Brent had eloped no one doubted
that they had executed their plans &c
Cleverly that not the slightest clev
could be found that would give any
indication as to the direction they haC
taken, 1t was believed tina. they hsC
put the woman's husband out OF thu
way and taken his money With them
But why the old mon death wa
necessary to the success OF the PLAN
of the runaways could no. be mad,
clear. A week after the discovery
made at Brent's farm the unusua
sight ct this time OF year Of flock o
crows lowering about piece Of wood
on a farm two miles from Btent's wa
noticed by q boy named Willie Comp
ton. He went out with his gun 4
shoot at the crows, which seemed Il
gather In one particular spot and cav
in q curious manner. The crows few
further away as the boy entered \,
woods, aud as he followed them up hi
came suddenly upon the dead body o
n man h ngirg by the neck from thI
lower branches of q big walnut tree
The boy hurried from the woods aut
ALARMED men on the farm. They web
to the tree and recognized the body a
that OF the missing farmer b 'ent. a
Justice Of the Peace was summoned
and the body was cut down aud an in
Quest held. The dead man
head was bare and his feet wer,
covered by an old pair Of sh PES, bu
no stockings. Ia pocket OF an oil,
farm coat, which the dead man hat
on, was found a piece of paper, oil
which was written 81 can't stand tn
disgrace" The writing clo7ely resem
bltd that OF the dead man, and tn,
general impression seemed to be tina
the old man had hanged himself Of
discovering his wiie's guilty fight en-,
robbery OF all he had In the world
There were no marks Of violence o.
the body. but Dr.. Ford, who made
post morton examint ton, gave 1t q
his opinion that death had not re ute
from hanging, but that the man wa
dead when hanged to the tree. /
spite OF that testimony, however, tn
Jury returned verdict OF suicide. A
no one seemed disposed to make iui
Their investigation in the mysteriou
case the body was buried. Brent
cousip, Rogers, accepts the suicid
theory, as be could zee no motive !
either Brent's wife or Covsrdale con
uniting murder TO either rob or ru
- Ff.c,,, Rront NOvppdala 10 a